A group of 122 Chinese scientists have signed a joint statement condemning the experiment as 'crazy' |
The Chinese hospital linked to a controversial experiment purporting to have created the world's first genetically-edited babies denied its involvement Tuesday.
Shenzhen
Harmonicare Women and Children's Hospital said in a statement that it suspected
the signature on a document approving the experiment, specifically its
adherence to ethical standards, was falsified.
It has also
asked police to investigate.
"We
have always firmly opposed the development of genetic experiments that violate
human ethics and morality," the hospital said on its website.
The
experiment, which was led by Chinese professor He Jiankui, claims to have
altered the DNA of twin girls born a few weeks ago to prevent them from
contracting HIV, and has prompted a heated debate among the scientific
community.
Some warned
that exposing healthy embryos and children to gene editing was irresponsible,
while others denounced He's experiment as premature and dangerous.
Chinese
scientists and institutions have also criticised the experiment, with 100
scientists in China issuing a joint statement calling for better state
legislation.
"It is
a great blow to the global reputation and development of biomedical research in
China," said the statement posted on the Twitter-like platform Weibo.
The university
where He works has also distanced itself from the scientist's experiment.
"This
research work was carried out by Professor He Jiankui outside of the
school," the Southern University of Science and Technology said in a
statement Monday.
He has been
on unpaid leave since February and his research is a "serious violation of
academic ethics and norms", it said.
The
Shenzhen Harmonicare Women and Children's Hospital too has denied any
involvement with He.
In
interviews with Chinese media, Cheng Zhen, the general manager of the hospital,
said the hospital had not partnered with He, and that he had never even met the
man before.
He's
experiment -- if it had been carried out -- is prohibited under Chinese laws
and regulations, according to state media CCTV in a report citing remarks at a
Tuesday event by the deputy minister of China's Ministry of Science and
Technology, Xu Nanping.
Specifically,
Chinese laws limit in vitro human embryonic stem cell research to a maximum of
14 days, said Xu.
#UPDATE The Chinese hospital linked to a controversial experiment purporting to have created the world's first genetically-edited babies has denied its involvement. https://t.co/pvybblDOCm #CRISPR #geneediting pic.twitter.com/nj8GwQA60X— AFP news agency (@AFP) November 27, 2018
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